All posts by lspady

#14: 100

Math Mini Sparks

10 squared = 100

The number of centimeters in a meter = 100

The number of sides on a square multiplied by the quantity of the number of letters in the alphabet take away one = 100

55+45 = 100

The base 10 equivalent of this binary number:  1100100 = 100

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #14: 100

2. Choose one of these projects to earn this mini spark.

  • Come up with 100 facts about the number 100. You can include math problems (like the ones listed above)
  • Facts that include the number 100
  • How to say 100 in different languages
  • Learn the scientific names of 100 animals.  Use this site (or another research tool) and present your learning using a tool of your choice (a list on paper, a Keynote, Pic Collage, etc.). Flip a coin 100 times and record the number of heads and tails.  Summarize your results.
  • Write a 100 word story about what you think life will be like 100 years from now.
  • Research information about life 100 years ago.  This article has some information about how things have changed. You may need to do other research Make a NOW VS THEN chart on your recording page. Compare/Contrast this year to what it was like 100 years ago. Include at least 10 items in your chart.

3. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

Scholastic’s Kids are Authors Contest

Other Events & Contests

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Click on the link below to learn more about this picture book contest!

This contest is open to students in grades K–8 in United States. Students must develop their entries in groups of three or more under the supervision of an adult who acts as the Project Coordinator. The Project Coordinator assures that the entry adheres to the rules and regulations and provides constructive criticism and general guidance. The story and illustrations must be the students’ work. Previously published work cannot be entered.

Good luck!!

http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/articles/kids-are-authors-contest-rules

#5: Geography Lesson: Great Lakes

Social Studies Enrichment

What’s so great about the great lakes? Complete this Social Studies mini spark and find out!

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your Social Studies mini spark recording page: #5: Geography Lesson: Great Lakes

2.  Watch this video. Record 10 facts about the lakes.

3.  “Great Lakes Now” takes  you on a field trip to Lake Erie’s coastal wetlands. Record notes on your recording page as you watch the video.

 

4. Need to memorize the great lakes? Use HOMES to help! Record these letters and the lakes each letter stands for on your recording page. When you are done scroll to the bottom of this post to check your work.

H-

O-

M-

E-

S-

5. Share your social studies mini spark recording page and visual with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Huron

Ontario

Michigan

Erie

Superior

Pondering Perfectionism

Spady Blog

perfection ~ noun

the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects

I’ve been pondering perfectionism lately and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to write a blog post.  Part of setting my goal of blogging 2x a month this school year was to try and break free from the disability that perfectionism has played in my writing.  I have come a long way and still have a long way to go.  I will say that I no longer despise the act of writing, but have grown to accept it as a welcome challenge.  (Side Note:  I just spent 10 minutes looking up whether it should be ‘welcome challenge’ or ‘welcomed challenge’.  UGH!  These are the details that frustrate me when writing!)

Instead of writing elegant paragraphs for this blog post, I’m using a strategy I have suggested to some of my students who struggle with writing.  Start by writing a list of your thoughts and then organize them into categories.  Here’s what I have so far…

  • Quotes
    • Strive for continuous improvement, instead of perfection ~Kim Collins
    • Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence ~Vince Lombardi
    • I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection.  Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God’s business. ~Michael J. Fox
  • Articles
  • Questions
    • Is perfectionism a bad thing?
    • How has media enforced perfectionism?  Is it all the media’s fault or am I unintentionally/unknowingly demanding perfection in my children/students?

I’m interested in your thoughts about perfectionism?  Do you have any resources to share?Maybe you’re like me and have more questions than answers.  Leave a comment below.  I look forward to learning from you!

 

#13: Mad About a Million

Math Mini Sparks

One of my favorite pictures books is A Million Dots by Andrew Clements. This book provide readers with several different ways to visualize a million.  This math mini spark asks you to explore this fascinating number!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #13: Mad About a Million

2. A Million Dots by Andrew Clements is a book that actually has 1,000,000 dots in it (along with many other fascinating facts!).  One million dots my seem kind of hard to imagine, but check out the book and see for yourself.

3. Watch The Making of Hero, a drawing composed entirely out of 3.2 million ink dots. Write your reaction to the final project on your recording page.

4. Do a little experimenting with stippling.  Try the activity shown in this video. Add a picture of your work to your recording page.

5. Figure out a problem involving a million.  Show your work and reasoning for your answer on your recording page.

      • How tall would a stack of one million pennies be?
      • If your leaky faucet dripped one million drops, how much wasted water would that be?
      • How long would it take you to count from 1 to 1,000,000 assuming that you counted one number every second for 8 hours a day?
      • How old would you be if you lived for 1,000,000 minutes?
      • How long will it take for your blink one million times?
      • Come up with your own “million problem”

6. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

 

Scholastic’s Breaking Barriers Essay Contest for Grades 4 – 8 (CLOSED-STAY TUNED FOR 2018 INFO)

Other Events & Contests

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The Breaking Barriers Essay Contest is a chance for students in grades 4 – 8 to share their personal stories and show how they use Jackie Robinson’s values to face their own barriers.  There are prizes for the winners!!!

Visit this link:  http://www.scholastic.com/breakingbarriers/kids/  for more details.

If you have any questions, please ask your classroom teacher, or your school’s EY teacher.

Deadline for entry is March 14th, 2016

Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the organization or activity described here.  The sharing of this information is provided as a community service.

Breaking Barriers Essay Contest for Grades 4 – 8

Uncategorized

Screen Shot 2016-01-05 at 3.33.17 PM

The Breaking Barriers Essay Contest is a chance for students in grades 4 – 8 to share their personal stories and show how they use Jackie Robinson’s values to face their own barriers.  There are prizes for the winners!!!

Visit this link:  http://www.scholastic.com/breakingbarriers/kids/  for more details.

If you have any questions, please ask your classroom teacher, or your school’s EY teacher.

Deadline for entry is March 14th, 2016-Check in the spring for a new contest

Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the organization or activity described here.  The sharing of this information is provided as a community service.

Early Enrichment #12: Building Strong Shapes

Early Enrichment

This is an easy, fun experiment to find out how strong different shapes are. Shape 1 sheet of paper into different shapes and see how much they can hold. We made a triangle, square, and cylinder.

AFTBstrongshapes-1

A hypothesis is a special word that scientists use for “an idea that you can test,” it is also a kind of prediction. Make a hypothesis of which shape will hold a book best. Do you think a circle will be stronger than a square?

Test your hypothesis out! Does your shape hold more than one book?

Can you think of other shapes or structures that might be stronger? Share your ideas below!

Activity from  All for the boys 

Early Enrichment #11: Beethoven’s 245th Birthday

Early Enrichment

Did you know that on December 17th, 2015, Beethoven would have turned 245?!

So who is this guy, and why is he so important?

Beethoven is one of the most famous composers in history. He played the piano and composed a lot of different symphonies. 

For this Early Enrichment activity, build your own musical instrument out of recycled materials and see if you can play Happy Birthday for Ludwig von Beethoven. 

homemade-musical-instruments

Share your pictures and/or videos with your EY Coordinator! 

Early Enrichment #10: Hour of Code Reflection

Early Enrichment

Last week around the world, many students in our school district participated in the Hour of Code. Did you?!

f you didn’t get a chance, check out this video and the link below.

If you didn’t get a chance to code, check out this link: https://code.org/learn

For those of you that participated, reflect about your experience. Comment below answering the following questions.

(1) What was your favorite part of the Hour of Code?

(2) What was challenging?

(3) What is your favorite coding website or app?

(4) Why do you think coding is an important skill to know?

(5) Do you think you will continue to practice Coding?